Chapter Title: The Cigar
Adelaide was now sitting on a two-seater rocking chair in a corner of the garden. A small humming sound could be heard, a melody that was somehow familiar yet sorrowful.
Cesare cleared his throat and spoke.
"Adelaide."
"...!"
Adelaide jumped up, then fell back into the rocking chair, which rebounded and knocked her off balance.
Not expecting such a reaction, Cesare hurriedly approached her.
Adelaide was lying on the ground with wide-open eyes.
"...Brother?"
Ignoring her small, breathy question, Cesare checked her up and down. Fortunately, it seemed she wasn't hurt, thanks to the grassy ground.
He extended his hand, and Adelaide took it to stand up. As he naturally sat down on the chair, she hesitated briefly before sitting next to him.
"What brings you here? I thought you were asleep..."
"I was curious about what you were doing."
"I was taking a walk and decided to rest for a bit."
Truly a rational woman. She calmed down as quickly as a galleon ship.
"Hmm."
"What about you, Brother? You should be resting since the cavalcade starts tomorrow."
"Worried about me?"
"Of course."
Adelaide smiled warmly. It was a very pretty smile, but compared to when he caught her falling from the third floor, it was eerily devoid of emotion.
He felt stifled.
Adelaide asked, watching Cesare silently smoke his cigar.
"Brother? Can't you sleep?"
"Seems like it."
"Shall I leave you alone?"
Cesare smirked, feeling a bit mischievous.
"No. I think I'd prefer you to stay."
"Shall I, then? I'll stay beside you."
Adelaide answered calmly and looked straight ahead. She didn't show any sign of dislike.
She was annoyingly good at acting.
Cesare sighed and took a puff from his cigar. The ashes grew long from frequent draws. Adelaide remained silent throughout, blinking as if enjoying the breeze with a seemingly warm smile.
He suddenly realized it had been a long time since he'd spent this much time in one place with her.
Adelaide always showed just enough interest to be polite and then quickly left, as if she didn't even want to share the same air with him.
Cesare fiddled with the half-burned cigar, feeling oddly compelled.
Probably, once this cigar was finished, Adelaide would feel she had placated him enough and leave.
And from tomorrow, she'd stick with Ezra.
Her debut was over, and she had the excuse of a promise.
"..."
The intervals between draws grew longer. Adelaide glanced at him but said nothing, her smile unchanged.
In the prelude to an inevitable conclusion, Cesare quietly posed the question he had been avoiding.
*What exactly did he want from this shoeshine girl?*
The cigar was more than half-burned, with a long, firm ash. Cesare abruptly spoke.
"Why do you dislike me?"
"I like you, Brother."
Adelaide answered immediately. It was a perfectly polished response, like one meant for sale.
"Don't joke. Be a shoeshine girl, not a lady, for a moment."
"A shoeshine girl? Haha."
Adelaide laughed as if she'd heard a funny joke. A stranger would have been fooled and moved on to the next topic.
Cesare wasn't fooled and took another puff from his cigar.
"So why do you dislike me?"
"I like you, Brother."
"You like me?"
"Yes. Deeply."
"..."
Cesare was silent for a moment.
Then he removed the cigar from his mouth and slowly leaned towards Adelaide. Tilting his head slightly, he looked down at her.
Adelaide watched him approach with wide eyes.
They were so close their breaths mingled, the air sweet and moist. Only the sound of insects filled the quiet space.
At such an intimate distance, Cesare's gaze turned sharp as he looked into Adelaide's eyes.
*Even now?*
"..."
For a brief moment, a shadow crossed her honey-colored eyes.
Cesare was sure he had won, but in the next instant, Adelaide placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I like you."
A woman as beautiful as a mermaid whispered with empty eyes.
"Can I call you Cesare?"
Immediately, Cesare pushed her away roughly.
"..."
He stared at her in silence, but Adelaide, who had been pushed, merely muttered.
"That's a shame."
*What a crazy woman.*
Cesare eventually let out a sharp laugh.
"How ridiculous."
Her eyes were so empty it was offensive.
Adelaide even brushed off her shoulders nonchalantly, showing disinterest.
His words, his actions, his insults, his praise, his gaze. Nothing reached her.
Cesare cursed softly.
Even knowing this, his damned body reacted like a dog to her silly words.
His pride hurt as much as his arousal showed.
"Must be nice to finally get sold off to a nobleman."
He chose to be nasty. He brandished it like a weapon, shouting that he still held the blade.
"Isn't it funny? Whether you're sold to a brothel or a nobleman, what's the difference? Pretend all you want, but you can't hide your true nature."
"..."
"Better hide it well from Ezra. That hypocrite won't even look at you if he knows your true self."
Adelaide calmly listened to his insults. Her serene smile was clear even in the dark.
Cesare soon fell silent. It wasn't enjoyable.
*She must be hurt... surely.*
Given how she cried that day of the initiation, she couldn't be completely unfeeling.
If so, she should show it. Cry. Or at least beg him not to say such things.
But she didn't, which is why that chaos happened that day. It wasn't entirely her fault.
Cesare irritably threw his cigar away. The remaining quarter quickly lost its fire.
*Or did she dislike him so much she couldn't even bother to speak?*
Cesare stared at the completely extinguished cigar and then stood up.
"...Being with you always puts me in a foul mood."
He stomped the end and turned to leave without a word.
Adelaide didn't stop him.
As he walked away, he thought he heard a small voice say, "I know."
---
The social season in Fornatie occurs twice a year.
From December to February, when the weather is cool and perfect for activities, it's the winter season.
From April to June, spanning warm spring weather to the start of summer, it's the spring season.
Since Cesare's birthday is on December 2nd, his birthday banquet has become an event signaling the start of the social season.
Cesare, like a god of debauchery and indulgence, wouldn't miss such a delightful sign. After his birthday banquet, he held a cavalcade in the name of Bonaparte.
Taking full advantage of Fornatie's love for horseback riding, they paraded all the family's finest horses.
People rode their well-bred horses, dressed in light coats suitable for the winter weather, and took a trip to the nearby Ador beach in Fornatie.
Cesare had mentioned this event to Adelaide early on and taught her how to ride.
So, now a day after Cesare's birthday.
Adelaide was struggling at the front gate of Bonaparte.
"This... This doesn't feel right."
Five minutes after barely getting on the horse with Aegir's help, Adelaide was clinging to the saddle, unable to do anything. She couldn't even hold the reins, feeling she'd fall off the moment she let go.
Thanks to two months of rigorous training, she was at least at this level. Initially, she'd fallen off the horse as soon as she got on.
Adelaide spoke with a pale face.
"The animal between my legs is twitching..."
"Every lady experiences that in bed. You'll get used to it."
Adelaide ignored Cesare's joke from his horse next to hers.
"Why must I ride a four-legged beast when I have my own legs? I'm too high above the ground. It's dangerous. Humans have two legs to move on their own, not to be carried by other creatures."
Cesare snorted in derision at her lengthy argument.
Adelaide looked at his thighs tightly gripping the horse with resentful eyes.
*If only I had those thighs...!*
But she soon acknowledged reality.
Even if she had thighs like those of a stud, she wouldn't have been good at riding. It wasn't just a matter of physical ability but an instinctive aversion.